Geostatistical Seismic Inversion with Direct Sequential Simulation and Co-simulation with Multi-local Distribution Functions

Stochastic sequential simulation is a common modelling technique used in Earth sciences and an integral part of iterative geostatistical seismic inversion methodologies. Traditional stochastic sequential simulation techniques based on bi-point statistics assume, for the entire study area, stationarity of the spatial continuity pattern and a single probability distribution function, as revealed by a single variogram model and inferred from the available experimental data, respectively. In this paper, the traditional direct sequential simulation algorithm is extended to handle non-stationary natural phenomena. The proposed stochastic sequential simulation algorithm can take into consideration multiple regionalized spatial continuity patterns and probability distribution functions, depending on the spatial location of the grid node to be simulated. This work shows the application and discusses the benefits of the proposed stochastic sequential simulation as part of an iterative geostatistical seismic inversion methodology in two distinct geological environments in which non-stationarity behaviour can be assessed by the simultaneous interpretation of the available well-log and seismic reflection data. The results show that the elastic models generated by the proposed stochastic sequential simulation are able to reproduce simultaneously the regional and global variogram models and target distribution functions relative to the average volume of each sub-region. When used as part of a geostatistical seismic inversion procedure, the retrieved inverse models are more geologically realistic, since they incorporate the knowledge of the subsurface geology as provided, for example, by seismic and well-log data interpretation.     

On the focal mechanism of the 26.05.1975 North Atlantic event contribution from tsunami modeling

The 1975 May 26 earthquake, of magnitude Ms = 7.9, occurred in the North Atlantic close to the Azores Archipelago. Its epicentre, as given by US Geological Survey, was 17.5° W, 35.9° N, 200 km south of the Gloria Fault. Several authors determined the focal mechanism as a dextral strike-slip event with no significant dip-slip component, compatible with the relative motion between Eurasia and Nubia plates but away from the presumed plate boundary. The 1975 earthquake generated a tsunami of small amplitude, recorded at the Portuguese tide-gauge network, in Spain and Northern Africa. The peculiar location of the earthquake and tsunami source and the generation of a noticeable tsunami were already discussed by several authors, but up to now, no direct modelling of the tsunami generation and propagation was made to judge the set of source solutions obtained by seismological analysis. In this paper, we present tsunami simulations, backward ray tracing and forward non-linear shallow water simulations using data from Iberia and Azores and Northern Africa. We show that a good fit between observed data and synthetic waveforms can be obtained with a focal mechanism with no significant dip-slip component, favouring its interpretation as almost pure dextral strike-slip event located in an old fracture zone south of Gloria Fault.     

The influence of shrimp farms organic waste management on chemical water quality

We evaluated the physical–chemical properties and nutrient concentrations in two shrimp ponds under conventional management, intensive (I-P) and semi-intensive (SI-P), and one under organic management (O-P), three days after loading and before stoking. The mean’s total alkalinity concentrations were 2.26 ± 0.04 mM, 2.28 ± 0.01 mM and 2.59 ± 0.01 mM, respectively for I-P, SI-P and O-P. Bicarbonate and carbonate accounted for 62% and 37% in I-P, 64% and 36% in SI-P and 83–17% in O-P, respectively. Aragonite and calcite were oversaturated around Ω = 5. Mean total phosphate (TP) concentrations were 441.37 ± 92.06 μg/L, 449 ± 48 μg/L and 473.64 ± 84.17 μg/L, under I-P SI-P and O-P management respectively. Following this sequence, NO₃⁻ concentration was 2.98 ± 0.7 μg/L, 1.16 ± 0.16 μg/L and 0.32 ± 0.12 μg/L, under I-P, SI-P and O-P management respectively. Thus, the data suggest that different management of farm organic waste leads to different chemical water quality.     

A grain-size correction for metal pollution indexes in river sediments

According to the List of Hazardous Substances of the Agency of the Toxic Substances and Disease Registry(ATSDR 2017),some metallic elements such as Pb or Cd are still considered as the most polluting elements in the world.These elements accumulate in sediments,and there are various methods available that differentiate lithogenic sources from anthropogenic sources.For that,the natural geochemical background is required,however,its definition is far from unanimous:it can be a global or local value,single or statistically estimated value,depending on the studies.Our study is focused on the Suba
e River in the state of Bahia,Northeastern Brazil,which was historically contaminated by lead metallurgy.The river sediments were sampled at 21 locations:one at the discharge point of the plant's rainwater basin,ten upstream,and ten downstream.The total contents of Fe,Ti,Mn,Pb,Zn,Cu,Cr,particle-size distribution,and organic matter were analyzed.The conventional geochemical indexes,i.e.,the pollution degree(mCd),pollution load index,and enrichment factor indicated contamination by Zn,Pb,Cr,and Cu.Then,a new enrichment factor is introduced,assuming that the sediments come from erosion of soils in the watershed.After obtaining the natural concentrations of metals in the clay,silt,and sand fractions of uncontaminated reference soils,we corrected the pollution indexes by calculating a new individual background in each sediment sample,according to its grain size distribution.This new approach provided more precise indexes in the assessment of sediment pollution,by highlighting higher contamination of Zn and Pb(around 50%)and at the same time the absence of Cr and Cu contamination,two metals not involved with the metallurgical activity.     

Assessment of the uncertainty in visual observations of wave height

Visual observations of wave height are still the main source of statistical information available for the prediction of extreme wave conditions to be used in the design of ship structures. However, the observations need to be calibrated with measurements. This work examines previous calibration studies and after joining the old with more recent data sets a reanalysis of the complete data sets is performed leading to updated regression equations.     

Characteristics of abnormal waves in North Sea storm sea states

A data set of storm wave records from the North Sea is analysed. Using current definitions of abnormal waves, eight of the largest wind waves are defined as abnormal waves. Twenty-four of the largest waves in time series, with a height larger than 10 m and with big vertical asymmetry are chosen for further analysis. Their individual characteristics are investigated and related to the global sea state characteristics. A comparison between measured data, second-order theory predictions and offshore basin data is made. The results for the chosen waves do not coincide with predictions of second-order theory. Considering that wind wave is second- and third-order non-linear, a new relationship between skewness and kurtosis is proposed for the sea states in which extremely asymmetric large waves have occurred. Another relationship between kurtosis and abnormality index of maximum waves is proposed too.     

Estimation of the bispectra and phase distribution of storm sea states with abnormal waves

This work deals with the estimation of the bispectrum of wind waves during severe storms containing abnormal or freak waves. It presents the basic definitions of higher-order spectra and of the bispectra in particular and further suggests how to interpret some of the results to identify non-linearity in the wave time series. Different estimation methods are used and compared so as to identify the differences in the estimated bispectra that results from the estimation procedure and the ones that result from the physics of the sea states. It is found that as a result of the second-order self-coupling the phase distribution of the wind wave during the severe storms differs from the uniform one and is well approximated by the distribution proposed by Tayfun and Lo [1989. Envelope, phase and narrow-band models of sea waves. Journal of Waterway Port Coast and Ocean Engineering 115(5), 594–613.].     

Turbulent free-surface flow around a Wigley hull using the slightly compressible flow formulation

The slightly compressible flow formulation is applied to the free-surface, three-dimensional turbulent flow around a Wigley hull. Two turbulence models (large eddy simulation and Baldwin–Lomax) are used and compared. The simulation conditions are the ones for which experimental and numerical results exist. The computational grid is built using an algebraic grid generator with the model fixed in space. The codes use the interface-capturing technique for computing the free-surface displacements and the Beam and Warming scheme for marching in time the numerical model. The results compare well with the experimental data available.